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Food trucks roll on to campus to meet demand

The U has stationed two trucks in the Knoll area of campus, with more on the way.

Rick Vang serves a customer at the Vellee Deli food truck Tuesday outside Williamson Hall. Vellee Deli is one of two food trucks that University Dining Service has brought to campus to provide more dining choices in the Knoll area.

Will Xiong, co-owner of Vellee Deli, said he and his girlfriend always wanted to serve their food at the University but didn’t think it would be possible.

“It’s like their own little city,” Xiong said. “They kind of have their own little rules. So you couldn’t get into the U.”

‘Many hoops to jump through’

Getting the food trucks to campus took a year of negotiations.

“There were many hoops to jump through and many departments to talk to,” said UDS marketing manager Heather Dickson.

She said UDS had to get permission from Facilities Management, Parking and Transportation Services, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety and University police.

UDS brought the trucks to campus as sub-contractors for Aramark, which provides food service to campus.

The trucks weren’t required to make any menu changes, although they all must sell Coca-Cola products as part of the University’s contract with the company.

Unlike other popular campus lunch spots, including those in Coffman Union, the trucks give a percentage of their sales to Aramark and the University, Dickson said. Restaurants in Coffman and other University buildings pay a flat franchise fee.

More convenient for students

Students eating at Vellee Deli on Tuesday said they were excited about the trucks.

“The dorm is like ‘Oh, I guess I’ll have a burger again’ or ‘I guess I’ll have pizza again,’” said political science freshman Jack Fate. “Here it’s like, ‘I’ll have a Dragon Melt!’”

Youth studies senior Goly Yang said the efficient service and accessibility of the food trucks makes it a better option for students. Yang used to walk to Coffman to eat lunch after her Tuesday class in Nicholson Hall, but for the last two weeks she has eaten at Vellee Deli.

Yang isn’t the only student who prefers the trucks to the student union.

“I feel like at Coffman, a lot of [restaurants] are rip-offs. This seems like better quality food,” said Nate Madsen, a business and marketing education senior.

Madsen said that without the food trucks, he wouldn’t have time to eat lunch on campus.

Both students also said they wanted to see a larger variety of trucks on other parts of campus.